Original paper
Model of alternative predominance of phytoplankton-periphyton-macrophytes in lentic waters of Mediterranean coastal wetlands
Trobajo, R.; Quintana, X. D.; Moreno-Amich, R.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 154 Number 1 (2002), p. 19 - 40
52 references
published: May 13, 2002
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/154/2002/19
ArtNo. ESP141015401007, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
A study was conducted to explain the predominance of different types of aquatic primary producers (algal assemblages and macrophytes) in relation to nutrient levels, in twenty-two shallow lentic waterbodies in the Empordà wetlands. The waterbodies show great variation of environmental parameters within small scales of time and space. The two first axes of the PCA analysis (52.74 % of total variance) are related to water turnover rate and eutrophy, respectively. Cluster analysis of physical and chemical data produced five groups of sites, each typifying a particular hydrological dynamics: confined coastal waters, semi-confined waters with marine and continental influence, freshwater coastal lagoons with high nutrient inputs, fluctuating freshwater systems and freshwater springs. A model for alternative dominance of phytoplankton-periphyton-macrophytes is described on the basis of two main gradients defined by the first two PCA axes. The model describes a horseshoe curve where, at each extreme, with maximal water turnover and or maximal confinement, macrophytes dominate. In states of intermediate turnover the degree of eutrophy increases and phytoplankton dominates.
Keywords
Aquatic primary producers • nutrient levels • Empordà wetlands